Butter Tub Lid Stands In For Putty Knife

The Super Handyman

by Al Carrell and Kelly Carrell

There are times when you need a putty knife for certain projects. For some reason, those are the times when you can’t find one, or maybe you don’t even own one. You can make one from the plastic lid of a butter tub or something similar. Just wash off any butter or whatever was in the tub. Cut the lid in half, and you will have two putty knives. These are great for spreading spackle, adhesive and many other repair compounds.

Dear Carrells: When my garden hose started leaking, I decided to fix it. I bought an inexpensive repair kit and cut off the damaged part of the hose. I had trouble getting the repair sleeve in place, so I used soap and water on the hose to make it easier. It worked! I was able to make repairs, and haven’t missed the length I cut off at all. I saved money and water. -- N.D.

A SUPER HINT -- Some light bulbs last longer than others. Look for “service” light bulbs when you need to replace one that works in extreme conditions. A service bulb won’t cost that much more but will last longer, in most cases.

Dear Al: I’m not a great house cleaner, but I have to keep the place clean by myself. I found that I can clean the shower wall and keep it looking good longer if I use paste wax on the surface after I clean it. The wax prevents water and soap scum from sticking to the surface. -- D.S.

Q: We have moved into a new house and are starting to get things hooked up and running. My refrigerator doesn’t seem to be working the same as before. What temperature is it supposed to read inside the refrigerator and the freezer? -- N.B.

A: Ideally, the refrigerator should run at about 34 F. The freezer should be about 5 F. You should have a way to adjust them both, although the temperature inside each is controlled by the same compressor. Make sure the coils are clean, the door seals are good and nothing is blocking the vents.

Dear Kelly: I have tried everything to get the rank smell out of my dishwasher. I switched detergents, cleaned the inside surfaces with baking soda, poured vinegar and water inside and let it run through a couple of cycles, but the smell just wouldn’t subside. I finally put some hair conditioner inside, thinking the softener might cut the smell. It worked. I have no idea exactly why, but it did. I guess the smell was caused by some acid or something that the conditioner reacted with. Now I will put some in every few months to prevent the smell from coming back. -- S.D.

SHOPTALK -- Ready for the perfect ratcheting wrench? Try the Ratcheting ReadyWrench. This amazing wrench has 16 of the most popular SAE and metric sizes built right into the wrench, so you don’t have to bring a whole box of tools to the job. The different sockets are color-coded to make picking the right one even easier. The ratcheting action is super smooth and never misses, and the offset design is an added bonus. The whole tool is built tough to last a long time and even comes with a lifetime warranty. It’s super handy, and it will end up being your favorite tool to use on most projects. Check it out at www.blackanddecker.com and at your hardware store and home center.

Got a question or a handy tip? Visit our website at: www.thesuperhandyman.com. Those of general interest will be used in future columns.